Structure: Roberts Mountain Thrust N-Nnw-Trending Zone Considered Main Hydrothermal Conduit; Nnw To N, And Ne-Striking Faults

Alteration: Decarbonization; Argillic And Silicic Hydrothermal; Oxidation

Tectonics: Basin And Range; Originally, W. Edge Of N. American Craton

Commodity: Au occurs As micron to submicron-sized particles associated with quartz and clays in the oxide zones and with pyrite and marcasite in the sulfide zones. Simple refractory ore in the lower portions of the lower post/betze orebody is characterized by silicification with kaolinite & 5-10% disseminated pyrite. Carbon found distal and probably unrelated to the orebodies. Increasing Au grades associated with increasing amounts of pyrite/marcasite.

Deposit: Higher grade ore generally found adjacent to faults and in crests of folds, belo W impermeable units. Deposit contains both sulfide and oxide ore. Lower post and betze are horizontally and vertically adjacent parts of the same orebody, discovered and then named separately. Betze is n W of and belo W post; lower post is directly belo W post. Supergene alunite from post k/ar dated at 8.48 to 9.58 ma (arehart, cited in lauha & bettles). Post orebody is oxide, hosted by vinini fm. Lower post/betze are refractory, hosted by popovich & to lesser extent roberts mt. Fm. Secondary mineralization trend at lower post/betze is n40-70e. Top, bottom, and length are maximum dimensions for all post/betze orebodies, combined. This record includes information from mrds records m242940 and w700373, which have been deleted.

Deposit type: Carbonate-hosted Au-Ag

Development: Anomalous gold detected in outcrops; orebody encountered in first drill hole. Western states minerals commenced mining in 1986, and sold the post deposit to barrick goldstrike in january 1987. Lower post was discovered by deep drilling in 1987. Further drilling in 1987 defined the betze orebody, "the largest deposit descovered to date in the carlin trend" (lauha & bettles, 1993). The post orebody is mined by barrick goldstrike As a major ore source for the goldstrike mine processing facilities. Most reserves (see 1992 figures) to be mined from betze pit, which is expected to reach depth of approx. 1,600 ft, with a stripping ratio of 1:7. Refractory ore will be processed by autoclave , which is expected to reach a daily capacity of 15,000 tons/day in 1993. The newmont portion of lower post will be mined sometime after 1993. ; econ.com: cyanidation relatively unsuccessful on refratory sufide ore, so barrick processes such ores by roasting or pressure oxidation, then cyanidation.

Geology: Arehart, foland, et al. (1993, latest pub. On this deposit) gives age of mineralization As 117 ma. Other possible ages of mineralization are: 36-37 ma, 39 ma, or 158 ma. The lower post, betze, and deep post deposits lie beneath the post deposit and spacially distinct from post. Post lies on the upper plate of the roberts mountain thrust; betze & lower post are in the lower plate of this thrust. Lower post and betze are a single orebody (arehart et al). Associated igneous rocks, shown above, also host ore in the post deposit. Nn W to N faults and some NE faults sho W movement after ore formation. Faulting caused brecciation and preparation for higher grade mineralization. Collapse & hydrothermal breccias of above-named host rocks also host ore. Minor Au mineralization found in goldstrike intrusive, usually along faults or joints. American barrick and newmont use different names for the same units (such As roberts mountain fm.).

Rock formation(s): Goldstrike Stock;Goldstrike Stock;Unknown;Latite Sill;Diorite Sill
Vinini Formation;Popovich Formation/Rodeo Creek Unit;Popovich Formation;Popovich Formation;;Roberts Moutain Formation

Ore(s): Structurally Controlled Near Southern Terminus; Penetrative Farther North. High Angle Faults Control Higher Grade Au. Imbricate Thrusts Related To Roberts Mt. Thrust Or Later Event Influenced Ore Localization. Oxide Ore Generally Occurs In Vinini Fm.(Or Newmont'S Rodeo Creek Unit); Refractory Sulfide Ore Typically Occurs In Popovich & Roberts Mt. Formations. Plutonic Rocks Often Acted As Dams To Mineralizing Fluids.

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Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Arsenic

ⓘ Gold

ⓘ Silver

Mineral List

17 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

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